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Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi Fire Inter Miami into CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarter-Finals

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi each delivered a goal and an assist as Inter Miami beat Nashville 3-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Robert Summerscales

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi Fire Inter Miami into CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarter-Finals
Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi Fire Inter Miami into CONCACAF Champions Cup Quarter-Finals /

Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi each delivered a goal and an assist as Inter Miami beat Nashville 3-1 on Wednesday night to qualify for the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Both former Barcelona frontmen had also been on target in Tennessee last week when Miami came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in the first leg.

Miami made a much better start in Florida.

The game was less than eight minutes old when a Suarez dummy allowed Messi to collect the ball 30 yards from goal before rolling a perfect pass to the Uruguayan, who beat the keeper with the outside of his right boot.

Captain Messi then scored himself to make it 2-0 midway through the first half with a powerful finish following an impressive run into the box from Diego Gomez.

With his side in a strong position, Miami boss Gerardo Martino opted to give Messi a rest and subbed him off five minutes into the second half.

But Suarez stayed on the field and set up Robert Taylor for Miami's third goal with a fine cross shortly after the hour-mark.

Hany Mukhtar thought he had scored an away goal for Nashville in the 80th minute but a VAR review eventually ruled that he had been offside.

Former Premier League striker Sam Surridge then scored legitimately in added time but Miami still prevailed 5-3 on aggregate and will play either FC Cincinnati or Monterrey in the last eight.

Highlights: Inter Miami 3-1 Nashville (5-3 on aggregate)

Luis Suarez (left) and Lionel Messi pictured celebrating a goal during Inter Miami's 3-1 win over Nashville in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup
Luis Suarez (left) and Lionel Messi pictured celebrating a goal during Inter Miami's 3-1 win over Nashville in the CONCACAF Champions Cup :: IMAGO/Icon Sportswire/Peter Joneleit
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Robert Summerscales
ROBERT SUMMERSCALES

Robert Summerscales launched FanNation Futbol in February 2022. Rob is a British journalist who previously spent two years on the sports desk at the Daily Mail in London, having earlier served as editor of CaughtOffside.com. He has been to the last two FIFA Men's World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, and is looking forward to completing his hat-trick in North America in 2026.